In this issue, Jan. 3-9

Best of the Sun … so far — the third kind | If you’ve enjoyed the first two parts, you’ll love the “best of the rest,” the final installment of our humbly presented “Best of the Sun … so far” series, which includes a heavy dose of Patrick Sargent, some our most-clicked news reports and business debuts, and a curtain call for what we consider the most well-rounded roster of journalism professionals and freelancers in the city. Check out the first two parts below:

For Chase Joinville, opening Grafton Hill Barbershop was not only a chance at redemption for the storefront at 120 Hamilton St., but for the new owner as well.

Local Business Spotlight: Grafton Hill Barbershop | “There’s more to life than getting into trouble. Life is a precious thing. I want to be a positive role model for my kids and give back to the community that I grew up in. Basically, make things right and pay it forward.” Find out more about Chase Joinville, his long road to entrepreneurship and his new Hamilton Street shop.

Sina-cism: Home sweet home foreclosure | Housing markets have had eight years to heal, and foreclosure is part of that process. Those losing their homes today are either unable or unwilling to make their payments. Sympathize all you like, but it does no good to keep someone in a home they can’t afford. … Sinacola goes all anti-activist in the name of common sense.

Editorial: Officials face problems, potential after inauguration | The public has the right to expect that those chosen to lead them act with wisdom and goodwill, and without narrowness of mind and attempts at personal glorification. Moreover, as the pace of change accelerates, elected officials need to rise to the challenge of acting with a greater sense of urgency. Those and a few more thoughts for our 2016-17 council and school board.

Sun Spots with Hitch: Vol. 20 | Hey, Sun Spots turns the Big 2-0 today! Boy, do they grow up fast — only one more edition, and he’ll be buying us booze. One thing Worcester folks of all ages didn’t need to see was a hangover from a brutal winter of record-breaking snowfall and hard-to-navigate neighborhoods. So, when the season’s first real test dropped in early last week only to have the city admittedly fail in its response, Hitch naturally had some thoughts.

Courtesy Worcester Historical Museum

Worcester’s second mayor, Henry Chapin (first one bombed).

Worcestory Lesson: A ‘diabolical outrage’ in 1850 | Nearly forgotten in Worcester’s history, a pair of insidious events nights apart drew in the politics of two of the 19th century’s most fiercely debated issues, temperance and slavery, and foreshadowed the violence that would one day accompany the national prohibition of alcohol. Local history blogger David DuBois is back for round 2 with the Sun.

Part 8: More Attention, More Friends … More Enemies | Getting into journalism full time was a task worth meditating on, but I was burning within to change some of the things I saw. I began looking at the deep-rooted problems in the community. Meanwhile, my old enemy watched me, wishing I would get into trouble. I was cautious but their watchful eyes were too many. … Augustine Kanjia’s path becomes more clear and more treacherous as his story continues.

Sun Serial: A Mother’s Journey | Part 9 — The Learning Hubby | “The Learning Hub isn’t about the bottom line. Do we hope to make a profit? Absolutely. That is needed to sustain the business and my wife, but profit isn’t the driving force behind The Hub. Our mission is bigger than that.” Giselle Rivera-Flores’s husband, Jaime, has had her back from the beginning, but some words of wisdom at a critical time provided a particularly needed level of support.

Worcester Weekly | Well, you won’t have 2015 to kick around anymore. Lucky for you, we’re here to help smooth your transition into 2016 with a bunch of good stuff to do this week, including taking a little time to warm up someone else’s winter. And The One you don’t want to miss.

New in Free to Read

Courtesy of Advocates

The backyard of Advocates’ new program home, for women with traumatic brain injury, in Worcester.

A single-family home off Salisbury Street in Worcester recently became the first in the area to offer residential services to women who have suffered traumatic brain injury. It’s designed to transition clients from an institutional setting to complete independence.

Courtesy Enlightened Interventions

Walter Iwaniki leads a yoga class at Enlightened Interventions, a new type of wellness center, on Union Street.

“I noticed how much people in other areas of the world invest in themselves in alternative ways. And I noticed that their level of [contentment] was much happier than what I was seeing in doing mental health work in the United States.” A trip abroad gave founder Elizabeth Belliveau the idea for Enlightened Interventions. Then, all she had to do was turn it into a thriving, multifaceted wellness operation.

In Case You Missed It

Many people have asked us about news we’ll be covering, but an equal number have asked questions about how the Sun’s website, worcester.ma, will work. Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions:
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